The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-03-25
Ladies' Department.
Hygiene.

Cellent every uay minus TO mousse
keepers.
The subject of public health and
the best means of preventing disease
have attracted much attention of late
years, and columns upon columns
have been given to the public through
the medium of the press upon this
topic. This is a matter of congrat-
ulation, for no question is of SO
much vital Importance to the world
at large, and none deserves more
earnest study. But it is also true
that the great ma ses of the people
take no precautions against disease
The startling statemen was made
some time ago that half of the deaths
in our large cities are due to pre-
ventable disease. Admitting this as
true, the way to prevent these deaths
is for every man and wOmsn to take
the best possible care of his or her
human machinery, without which
precaution all the city boards of
heath in the land will be unavailing
1t should be pretty we'll under
stood by this time that the body
must have pure air. pure water,
wholesome food, suitable. clothing.
sunshine, protection from special
contagious diseases, and last, but
not least, rest and recreation. I'm
pure air is at the bottom of much
more sickness than people generally
believe. and it is the one desidera-
tum of health that is the least
comfortable. The atmosphere
is always contaminated with
dust containing minute germs
which cause putrefaction and fer
mentation; and these, it is now
asserted, cause nearly all ma
larial and contagious diseases. Per.
sons living in the country have little
impure air to contend against ex-
cept in marshy places, but in the
city foul streets and reeking cutters
are very hotbeds for the development
of these germs.
Again, people are careless about
the cellars where they store food
and vegetables in winter, from which
fungi develop and spread through
the house. In ninety-nine houses
out of a hundred the cellar will be
found damp and musty, and, even in
otherwise well-regulated households
in a shocking STATE of uncleanliness.
It should have an asphalt floor; the
walls should be whitewashed with
lime, into which copperas had been
introduced. at least twice a year,
and it should be we'll ventilated.
The use Of improper food, in hot
weather especially, is fruitful cause
of disease. Too much meat and too
few fruits and farinaceous food are
eaten. And, too there is small doubt
but that we eat too much, whatever
the nature of the food. Meat three
times day is not only unnecessary
but absolutely harmful, especially in
hot weather. That it is not essen
tial to the production Of strength is
proved by the herculean work of the
Roman soldiers who built such won
derful roads, meanwhile carrying q
weight Of armor that would crush
the average farm hand. and who liv-
ed on coarse bread and sour wine.
But they were temperate in both
eating and drinking, and regular and
constant in exercise. The Smyrna
porter eats only fruit bread and
olives. Meat rarely or never enters
into his bill of fare; yet he walks off
with his load of 500 pounds. The
coolie, fed on rice, is more active
than the negro fed on fat meat. The
heavy work Of the world is not done
by the biggest eaters, and the fastest
and longest winded horses is not the
sleekest, Moderation in diet and re-
gular hours and persistent exercises
are the prequisities for sound men
tai and physical health. This is a
matter that is easily regulated by
the houscmother at least so far as
herself and her children are concern
ed; and the subject of diet and ex-
ercises is one she cannot afford to
ignore. as it is the primary factor in
the establishment and maintenance
of vigorous health.
The question of supply of pure
water is not so easily settled. Well,
TODD people, many of them have
spring water brought to their house>